Memo about an Interview with an Engineer

To        : Instructor

From    : Student

Date    : February 11, 2022

Subject            : Interview with Engineering Profession

Following an interaction with a professional in the engineering field, I found some insights about the important documents and presentations an engineer should produce and understand before commencing on a project. Besides, he explained the importance of communication skills, how much time he devotes to communication in his projects, and how to improve on the skills. I am writing this memo to inform you of some of the major insights I found from the professional.

Context

Undertaking a project needs a systematic plan because the process is complex. What matters most is how an engineer plans the process by employing high-level communication skills with the stakeholders and constituting crucial documents on the project. They must produce some important documents and presentations before commencing on any project or job.

• Specification

It is a document detailing the specifics of what needs to be done for a job. It details the requirements of a job and the materials it needs. It is an important document that engineers need to familiarize themselves with because without understanding the requirements of a project, they cannot deliver.

• Project Quality Plan

The document details the responsibilities, procedures, and functions of a job. Although a project manager prepares it, engineers must approve them before any activity on a site is done. The engineers produce their recommendations on the quality of the project through evaluating the plan. Usually, they approve the plan if it is projected to meet the job requirements.

• Construction Drawings

An engineer is tasked with drawing and producing a presentation of a project’s sketch. The drawing covers structural, electrical, architectural, and mechanical areas. The presentation acts as a guide to the engineer when proceeding with the project. With a complete sketch of the four areas, work is ready to start, and they start the project.

• Technical Reports

Engineers produce reports after the completion of every phase of a project. The reports detail a project’s outcomes and offer recommendations for upcoming phases.

Discussion

Upon asking him how much time he devotes to communication on his projects, he said that half of his time is devoted to communication. He said that communication is important before starting a project because he must liaise with stakeholders such as the employees and project managers. Besides, a larger part of engineering is delivering what the client or project manager demands. The engineer must be very keen on what the manager says and continually ask for clarifications at every phase.

He posited that communication is the most essential soft skill an engineer should have because of building trust with their teams. The relationship between an engineer and his team should be trustworthy and open because the team has to continually ask for clarifications from the engineer, and the engineer also has to give instructions. It results in high performance because the instructions are clear; they, therefore, deliver according to expectations.

He gave some advice on improving communication skills in engineering and posited that for quality performance, an engineer must always keep the communication lines open. It means the engineer must be approachable, meaning they must accommodate their teams. It also means being flexible at all times in that the team has no fear of approaching them. It is the only way an engineer can thrive in his career while delivering the best to their clients.

Closing

Given the importance of communication in engineering, it is vital for an engineering student, including me, to devote considerable time improving communication skills. Also, understanding the type of documents and presentations that engineers must read and produce is integral in preparing for high performance in the career.

Thank you